Mr. Seward to Mr. Dayton
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch of the 19th of February last, which treats chiefly of your proceedings in the case of the Rappahannock; these proceedings are approved.
[Page 52]Mr. Geofroy called upon me yesterday, and said that he was instructed to speak with me upon that question. He repeated to me from M. Drouyn de l’Huys the representations which he had received from you, and which seem in conformity with the previous instructions of this department and your own reports. Mr. Geofroy then expressed to me M. Drouyn de l’Huys’s views upon the subject, with the reasoning upon which these views were adopted.
These explanations did not differ in any material point from the assertions of M. Drouyn de l’Huys upon the case as you have conveyed them to me in your correspondence. In my reply I insisted upon the fact that the Rappahannock is a ship-of-war, a pirate escaped from British ports, and a fugitive from British justice, interposing to maintain the laws of nations. I trust that the evidence you have presented to the imperial government upon this point will be found satisfactory, as to this government it seems conclusive. M. Drouyn de l’Huys says that if the Rappahannock, after being released and getting afloat, shall receive an armament from the British shores, and commence her depredations as as pirate, that it would be Great Britain and not France against whom our complaints should be prepared; but Great Britain did listen to our complaints, and did make an earnest effort to prevent not only the equipping, but also the escape of the Rappahannock from British waters. Since she entered Calais without any change of character, it seems to us that we have much the same claim on the imperial government to detain her and defeat her criminal enterprise that we before had against Great Britain. We think that this view of the subject cannot be deemed remarkable, because by taking it we by necessary implication commit ourselves to pursue towards other states the same just and friendly policy which we are requiring from France.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
William L. Dayton, Esq., &c., &c., &c.